Switch for electrical devices



March 17, 1931. v. DE PONTE SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES Filed July 9. 1929 Inucnior K'IVW/PODEJDOIVIE A ii'orney Patented Mar. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES VENTURO DE PONTE, or BBQOKLYN,.NEW YORK SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL DEVICES,

Application filed July 9,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in switches for electrical devices especially gas lighters, portable electric lights and the like.

The invention aims to provide a switch for an electrical device that is adapted to be normally arranged within a support, the switch operating normally to complete the circuit to the lighting coil or electric bulb when the device is removed from the support but that will act to open the circuit when the device is disposed within the support. However, the structure is such that if desired the switch may be closed during the time the device is arranged within the support in order that the,

current will continuously flow to the bulb if the device is associated with a portable lamp.

an important object of the invention is to provide a switch construction of this character that is extremely simple of construction and that may be associated with ornamental and serviceable gas lighters, hand lamps and the like so as to produce a useful and relatively inexpensive electrical device of this character.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in both of the views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gas stove, or cigar or cigarette lighter within which is embodied my improved switch, the device being disclosed as arranged within a support, which is disposed in cross section, and

Figure 2 is a detailed longitudinal cross section of the switch as associated with a particular character of electrical device.

Now having reference to the drawing, 5 designates a length of piping of any suitable dimensions and shape and that equipped at its outer end with an electric socket 6 preferably arranged at right angles to the standa rd 5 and adapted to receive an electrical coil, electrical bulb or other electrical current utilizing element. Arranged upon the lower end of this standard 5 is a switch casing in the form of a cylinder 8 that provides a handle for the standard 5, said cylinder 8 having communication at its upper end with the interior of the standard so as to enable the electrical wires from the switch to pass through 1929 Serial No. 376,995.

ing spaced relation as illustrated in Figure -I;=:

2. The lower-end of the said body 9' directly beneath the space between these contact plates 12 -121 is provided with an opening 13 forwhich is freely slidable aswitch pin 1% the inner end of which is equippedwith a circuit closing bridge piece'15. Extending inwardly from this bridge piece 15 is an elongated: pin 16 adapted for longitudinal movement withina socket formed in the iower end of the. body 9 as illustrated. Surrounding this pinil6bet=ween the bridge piece 15 and an abutment at'the lower end of the socket is an expansible coil spring 17 the purpose of which is normally to urge the bridge piece 15 downwardly to complete the circuit a cross the contact plate 12-421 Thelower end of the housing Sis open and externally thread-edandhas mounted tltiereon a threaded'cap 18, thebottom' wall of which is formed'wi-th an opening in line with the opcn- 3 ing inthelower end ofthe body 9 so that said pin 14 will project tlierethrough.

One of the'wi'res' to the socket 6 as well as one of the wires to the switch mechanism are extended through an opening in the upper end of the housing 8 and are cc uip -icd with a conventional plug A to enable the current to be conducted to the device.

Normally the device is adapted to he supported within a suitable supporting cup l5 3 arranged upon thewall, cigar store counter or thelike. When the cap 18 ofthc housiifig 8 is threaded inwardly as illustrated in Figure Qjthe pin 14- willengage the bottom wall H of the cup B when the device arranged withnr thecup to obviously raise the bridge piece thereby breaking the circuit across the.

contact'platesi l2*12.,. Howeveix s soon as the deviceisIremoVedfmmIhe cup the spring 17 Will act to throw the bridge piece down ikttached within the lower ends wardly thus completing the circuit to the lighting coil, electric bulb or whatever current utilizing element is associated with the socket 6. However, in the event it is desired to have the current flow through the coil or bulb when the device is disposed within the support B it is only necessary to thread cap 18 downwardly until the bottom wall thereof is substantially flush with the lower end of the pin 1& as disclosed in Figure 1. This then will prevent the pin 14: from moving inwardly to break the circuit.

In view of the foregoing description when considered in conjunction with the accom-- panying drawing it will be apparent that I have provided a novel, simple and useful switch construction for association with port'- able electric lights, cigar and cigarette lighters and the like and even though I have here in shown and described the invention as consisting of certain detailed structural elements it is nevertheless to be understood that some changes may be made therein without aflecting the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is 1. In a structure of the character described, a casing, an insulating base disposed in the casing having longitudinal channels in its'opposite sides for the passage of conductor wires and further having a vertically aligned socket and an opening in its lower end portion, binding posts mounted in the lower end portion of the base to which the wires are secured, contact elements formed on the binding posts and disposed on opposite sides of the opening, a pin slid ably disposed through the opening, a bridge piece formed on the'inner end. of the pin for engagement with the contacts, a guide pin mounted on the bridge piece and extending therefrom into the socket, a coiled spring encircling the guide pin and engaged withthe base and the bridge piece'in a' manner to yieldingly urge said bridge piece into engagement with the contacts and a closure cap adjustably threaded on the casing and having an opening in alignment with the base opening through which the first named pin is operable, said cap adjustable on the cars- I ing in a manner to prevent operation of said first named pin. 7

2. In a structure oi the character described, a casing open at one end, an insulating base mounted in the casing, contacts on the base, a contact pin slidably mounted on the base and projecting from. the open end of the easing, and a closure cap adjustably mounted on the open end of the casing and'having an 7 opening through which the pin slidably extends, said cap adjustable on the casing in a manner to prevent operation of the pin.

In'testimony whereof, I aflix my signature. I

vENr Ro DE ours. 

